The NBA draft is just a day away and the trade winds that normally howl during this time of year are reaching hurricane levels, with your Boston Celtics right in the eye of the storm.

Right now, there are a ton of rumors out there, many involving big names, and many involving the Green. I’ll give you a couple I’ve seen, along with my take on them and the probability of them going down. Of course with Danny Ainge running the ship, expect the unexpected. It won’t shock me at all if the trade that does occur comes out of nowhere and not from this list.

I will say this however; I think the Celtics will make a major move in the next day or so. The best guess here is it will involve the number-7 pick in the draft, and will bring back a “name‿ player who can immediately step in and start, probably at point guard.

The juiciest rumor involves Allen Iverson coming to Boston in a trade sending the number-7 pick to Philadelphia and Wally Szczerbiak to Utah. As intriguing as this one sounds, I don’t think it will happen…and it shouldn’t.

Yes, Iverson would instantly make the C’s a playoff team. But there just aren’t enough basketballs for “The Answer‿ and “The Truth‿ to handle. The only way this deal works is if it’s followed by a Paul Pierce trade. If you ask me, the devil you know is better than the one you don’t. Iverson may be better, but Pierce is younger, stronger and in line for a much longer career from this point on. This deal only makes sense if the C’s are on the verge of a title, which they’re not at this time.

Another rumor gathering steam is Boston sending the #7 pick to Chicago for Chris Duhon and the #16 selection. I’d say this one is much more probable than the AI deal. It doesn’t make as big a splash, but it makes a lot more sense.

Duhon isn’t a potential stud, but he is a solid point guard who could instantly help. He’s probably better than any of the options available at that position in the draft other than Brandon Roy, who’s expected to be gobbled up before Ainge gets to choose. The Bulls already have Kirk Hinrich, so Duhon is expendable if they have their eyes on a particular player at seven. (Remember, they already have the second pick in the draft thanks to Isiah Thomas’ idiocy)

If a better option doesn’t become available, I think the C’s take this deal in a heartbeat (Ainge would still likely come up with a pretty good player at #16). However, late word out of Chicago has a Bulls source denying this one will happen. We’ll see.

The final deal gaining momentum involves the #7 pick and Dan Dickau going to Portland for PG Sebastian Telfair. This is the one (other than a possible Kevin Garnett trade) that really gets me excited.

Ainge made no secret of his interest in Telfair before the 2004 draft. Some say that’s why the Trail Blazers took him so high (#13) despite the kid jumping to the NBA straight out of high school. He’s not a great shooter and he is kind of small, but Telfair has great instincts for the position. I, for one, would love to see the Celtics with a point guard who thinks pass first. He’s just 21 and should be ready to bust out in this, his 3rd year in the league.

Why is he possibly available? Well, because word is he’s going to leave Portland anyway when his rookie contract expires. Plus, the man who drafted him higher than a lot of “experts‿ thought he should go was John Nash, who was relieved of his duties this off-season.

Ultimately, I think this is the deal that gets done. Perhaps it’s wishful thinking on my part, but I believe it’s a steal for the Celts. Even if Portland demands something else, I believe Ainge will jump at the opportunity to add a young “veteran‿ at the position his team has the greatest need at.

Now then, if Garnett becomes available, all bets are off! What do you say Kevin McHale? Care to help your old team out?

What are your thoughts on the NBA draft? What should the Celtics do? Do any of the rumored trades excite you? Have you heard any others? Which ones would make you cancel your season ticket subscription? If the C’s do keep the pick who should they select?